‘Taxpayer Honour Card’ scheme: FBR yet to chalk out basic parameters

SOHAIL SARFRAZ

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is yet to chalk out basic parameters of the ‘Taxpayer Honour Card’ scheme announced by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh in his Budget (2012-13) speech.

It is reliably learnt on Monday that the FBR has not even started even basic work on this most important announcement made for honest taxpayers during budget (2012-13). The details of the ‘Taxpayer Honour Card’ scheme have also not been made part of the budget explanatory circular issued after the budget. In budget speech (2012-13), the Finance Minister announced that, “the tax  collection  has  improved  due  to  the  cooperation  of  law  abiding businesses and individuals. The government appreciates them. To recognize them, a Taxpayers’ Honour Card is being introduced. It will entitle its holders to concessions and facilities at various public and private forums such as Nadra, Passport offices, Airports, Customs, Immigration, FBR and other public offices. The FBR will also honour them by displaying their names on its official website, he added.

Despite passage of over two months, the FBR has yet to start exercise for initiating basic work on the implementation of the ‘Taxpayer Honour Card’ scheme.

Sources said that the taxpayers entitled to avail the ‘Taxpayer Honour Card’ scheme would enjoy many privileges and benefits at banks, National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), immigration offices and other government departments/public dealing institutions. The FBR had reportedly said that the Board will issue the detailed rules for the implementation of the ‘Taxpayer Honour Card’ scheme. In this connection, the suggestions of the Parliamentarians would be incorporated in the new scheme. The names of the good taxpayers would be displayed on the FBR’s official website and these persons can avail facilities at different government departments. They would be given priority at Nadra and immigration/passport office.

The government has introduced a ‘Taxpayer Honour Card’ scheme for all taxpayers who have filed tax returns and paid due taxes for the last 5 years for availing privileges and benefits. Under the Finance Act 2012, a new section 181B (Tax Payer Card) has been included after section 181A of the Income Tax ordinance 2001, the Board may make a scheme for introduction of a taxpayer honour card for individual taxpayers, who fulfill a minimum criteria to be eligible for the benefits as contained in the scheme.